Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-01-14

OF steep high rocks, obeying some will
impulse Of which she felt ashamed, I
follow him with her eyes and be hersel
invisible was an imporsonal rapture II
which she could indulge without givin,
1t too great advantage. Yet, when h
disappeared near the river, she folt
singing check in her heart, and n sens
of having inflicted loss and robbery up
on herself.
To Beetrus he was the walking es
soncc of the world, representing no
only its mighty business, but its advan
tagcs of culture and travel. She nevel
had been from home except to Evans
vile and New Harmony; and he novcl
staid twS nights in place, and spoke
with fatigue of his exciting life. What
operas he had seen!-for in Bcetrus
chaotic Imagination all theatrical per
formance was opera, and operas were
the distinct possessions OF the wealthy.
She resented with mixture of awe
and daring the greatness of his rela.
tives. He was n nephew of the head ot
his commercial house, and his grand
father had been Congressman; while
her background was the pioneers
cabin, the pecan woods, and Wabash
rocks and hills.
Beetrus was the child of n shrewd
though novel-soakcd mother, who had
lowered her with something more than
n mispronounced fine name and biassed
imagination. 1t is strange TO think
how large human mass, moving this
instant in grooves of practical action,
is protesting with secret scorn against
all its conditions. Beetrus was full Of
II girls unrests and eccentric impulses.
She thought she knew exactly what she
wanted for her happiness. the con-
densed statement of which would have
been to have the whole globe played in
her lap, ticketcd simply "Rsalrd of
merit"
She pressed her oheck against the
rock linchcns, taking n half-inverted
view of the autumn tangle, and glad in
spite of herself for the pleasant breath
of life. 1t was worth while to be part
of such woods and river vistas, and to
smell all the grounds odors. Some
little living thing ran along log not
far from her; and she could hear n
squirrel bark, whish and whisper of
loosened leaves as they were sent
adrift, and then the dropping of nut
Stong as the sunlight was, she shivered
upon the rocks, and then felt all her
blood burn, beat, and tremblc. The
commercial traveller was walking back
with brisk step from the river, and
scanning every opening among the
trees, as if on an eager search. He
saw Beetrus rising and tightening her
pink shawl on her shoulders, and halted
with jerk.
"Where have you becn?" was his un-
ceremonious exclamation.
up here, reading my letters and
viewing the country"
"You saw me go past, then, didn't
you?"
"Was it youP" said she, fitting her
foot deftly to the steep descent.
"Let me lift you down. How pretty
you look this morning!"
"Oh! don't talk about pretty Mr..
Poundstone," said Beetrus, dyed in
color after he had stood her upon the
moss, and dazcd as she always was by
his prevailing presence.
you oughtn't to have hid; I want
to talk up a scheme with you right off.
1t popped into my head since ! got of
the train
"What scheme?" said Bcetrus, hug
ging her shawl and looking over her
shoulder to simulate complete indif-
ference.
You know well enough, or can guess.
We mustn't be parted, my dear girl;
can't run up to New Harmony every
time l make n trip down this way.
Think of the long winter Don't you
want to see me this wiuter?"
"Oh-yes," she admitted with
gasp.
~ want to see you. want to have
you entirely to myself, to look forward
to every time l come in of the road
Let's get married"
Beetrus visibly expanded and con-
tracted with Il great breath.
"Gct on the train and 90 over to Ev-
ansville with me, and we'll have the
tie the knot there. Then
home. And nice little private set of
rooms, all quiet and TO ourselves, and
no relations to bother u.s."
"But mas fixed things to go up to
New Harmony for the winter" whis-
pered Beetrus, struggling with this
vision. "And she wouldn't change her
mind so suddenly-'specially as she
doesn't know you real we'll"
ut isn't ma / want to marry" AZ
gucd Poundstone, using his winning
smile. "I'll drop my relations. and
you can surely do the same.
drop ma!'
"Leave her little while. Let her
60 up to New Harmony, you know"
"And what do you mean about drop
ping your relations?" demanded Bee
trus, growing straighter and more self
assured, and burning more vividly in
the cheeks. THAT they wouldn't want
to be acquainted with ma and mep No,
sir; l amt going TO let her go up to
New Harmony alone; and l never
would seriously have you unless she
knew all about it and was willing. She
might have read your letters if she want
ed to; she knows about them. / never
lid any thing in my life that ma told |
me not to do"
II thought five minutes talk on this |
subject would bring you to reason,"
Poundstone.
"Then you didn't calculate right"
$50 it seems"